Why SOOO much CARDIO?!?

[Flowerbomb90]

I've read about figure competitors (I am really interested in doing a comp one day) and some say they do all this cardio...some said up to 3 hours a day. I am asking....WHY? Cant you just lower your calories and not have to do nearly as much?

[andrerox80]

why? b/c they're majorly misinformed.

[sonti]

One thing to keep in mind... for many of these girls (I assume you are reading more about pro's than your amateur at work who participates), is that they come from very athletic backgrounds and they actually love spending 2-5 hours a day working out. For many of them, it is their job and their lifestyle. They don't know life without several hours training (many come from gymnastics/sports backgrounds since early childhood). Do they need to do 2x cardio a day? I dunno, I don't now their details, but I also don't think they hate it.

For example, Adela Garcia will say she doesn't feel right until she's done an hour cardio in the morning (on a normal day). Competitive athletes just do stuff like that. There are women here who exercise 2-5 hours a day, endurance, whatever... it's not "bad", it's just different and if they do it right, they eat for it and train properly for it.

[megdaig]

I agree with Sonti. I grew up playing sports all throughout college. It felt awkward when I no longer had 4 hours of practice and 3 days a week of double-headers. I love being active and in the gym, it's my happy place and I would love to be able to focus 100% on health and fitness and developing my physique (too bad it doesn't pay the same, yet). I would rather do an extra 30 minutes to an hour of cardio if it means I can eat an additional 100 calories.

[kjake55]

To achieve that maximum sought after physique.

Diet>Cardio>Weights

That is the 2nd time you've posted that answer today..you're like a broken record. If you're only going to post 1 answer to every question then please try to make sure the answer is correct, ie: Diet>Weights> Cardio

sheez

[freebirdmac]

I've read about figure competitors (I am really interested in doing a comp one day) and some say they do all this cardio...some said up to 3 hours a day. I am asking....WHY? Cant you just lower your calories and not have to do nearly as much?

I think Kimm4 would tell you that it's due to starting prep too late. If you want to do a comp, hire Kim. Save yourself the unprepared broscience ordeal.

[mrshester]

That is the 2nd time you've posted that answer today..you're like a broken record. If you're only going to post 1 answer to every question then please try to make sure the answer is correct, ie: Diet>Weights> Cardio

sheez

That's what I was thinking too....

[Cytrainer913]

Diet>Weights>Cardio->this is the best way to go about doing this and 3 hours is way off the charts and someone needs to stop prepping girls like this!

[kjake55]

Diet>Weights>Cardio->this is the best way to go about doing this and 3 hours is way off the charts and someone needs to stop prepping girls like this!

Craig Yarnall, CSCS, CPT, WNBF Pro
"Want a Bigger BODY, shut up and SQUAT, DEEP!!!!"
"Lifetime Natural Bodybuilder"
"Train Hard and Stay Natural"
"Team Klemczewski"
"Dr. Joe, Jr."
"The truth is that you will probably never reach your full bodybuilding potential without doing the Squat. The squat forces your whole body to GROW!"--
TOM PLATZ
"See Dick Train. See Dick train chest and arms everyday. Don't be a chicken-legged Dick! Squat!"


So Cy, tell me...how do you really feel about squats! lol!

[medjen]

That's what I was thinking too....

...this is why they created negs...

[penny0527]

To achieve that maximum sought after physique.

Diet>Cardio>Weights

shut. the. front. door.

[Miranda]

also don't forget that *a lot* of pros are on gear. it's easy to do four hours of cardio a day on 800 calories if you're a walking pharmacy.

[Kricket09]

I noticed this too! I was reading the "body transformations" on the main page of this site and am shocked by some of them. The results are amazing. But one girl I read had workouts with at least 20 excercises a session and then shes adding an hour of cardio and doing yoga on top of that. Kinda makes me feel my 5 hours a week lifting is not getting me anywhere?! But seriously, I dont have the time or energy for all of that?....

[TheAmazon]

also don't forget that *a lot* of pros are on gear. it's easy to do four hours of cardio a day on 800 calories if you're a walking pharmacy.

yeah, my favorite bikini girl...who really looks more figure , recently started a show prep to cut muscle where she was doing 3 hours of cardio on like 700 cals along with her regular weight routinues, i was like.......da ****

[Sawa3]

Diet isn't everything. It's important.. but to have a great physique you need to keep your body in shape and keeping fat low and muscle high. Someone stated it's some of these people's jobs to stay fit and they enjoy being ready to compete. Others don't like being that meticulous. So a good combo of each thing is important. Each person will have different results with different things.

I've read about figure competitors (I am really interested in doing a comp one day) and some say they do all this cardio...some said up to 3 hours a day. I am asking....WHY? Cant you just lower your calories and not have to do nearly as much?

[acrawlingchaos]

It depends on the individual.

Some are misinformed.

Some have bulimic tendencies with exercise.

Some simply love to do the work.


The later is my gf. She does an hour or two on the bike, teach zumba/boot camp courses several times a week and goes to other classes that she doesn't teach. All this on top of her 3-4 day a week weight training.

[stephanielynn76]

I've just recently finished reading The Stubborn Fat Solution by Lyle McDonald and the truth is, to get that last bit of body fat off the lower body most women will need to kick up the cardio. Often traditional diet and training just won't cut it. Take me for example. My skin fold measurements on my upper body are extremely low. I'm pretty ripped and vascular in my abs and arms, my back in coming in nicely, and I even have visible quad separation when I flex. However, at this level of leanness, I still have dimples on my outer thighs and too much body fat over my hamstrings and butt area. This is the sad reality for us women. Most of us have stubborn fat that often requires some drastic training to get rid of. Figure competitors are pursuing a level of leanness that is beyond what is comfortable and natural for the human body. As much as it sucks... excessive cardio is a must in that pursuit for most people.

ETA: ... and I will also add that I, personally, would rather do a little more cardio and have the option to eat a bit more... but that's just me...

[kimm4]

Cant you just lower your calories and not have to do nearly as much?

Yes.

Diet>Weights>Cardio->this is the best way to go about doing this and 3 hours is way off the charts and someone needs to stop prepping girls like this!

This!^^